Search - Carousel on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Excellent For Children Movie Release: 1956 DVD Release: 04/27/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 8 mins Studio: 20th Century Fox Members Wishing: 8 Genres: Fantasy, Musical, Romance, Musical Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Heaven-Can-Wait Fantasies See Also: Carousel [50th Anniversary Edition]

Carousel was adapted from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical of the same name--which, in turn, was based on -Liliom, a play by Ferenc Molnar. Gordon MacRae stars as carnival barker Billy Bigelow, who much against his will falls in love with Maine factory girl Julie Jordan (Shirley Jones). Billy proves an improvident and unreliable husband, but Julie stands by him. Upon discovering that Julie is pregnant, the unemployed Billy sees an opportunity for some quick money by joining his unsavory pal Jigger (Cameron Mitchell). The scheme goes awry, and Billy dies. Standing before the Pearly Gates, Billy is given a chance to redeem himself by the kindly Starkeeper (Gene Lockhart). He is allowed to return to Earth to try to brighten the life of his unhappy 15-year-old daughter Louise (Susan Luckey). Billy offers Louise a star that he has stolen from the sky; when Louise backs off in fear, Billy slaps her. He feels like a failure until he and his Heavenly Friend (William LeManessa) attend Louise's school graduation ceremony. There the invisible Billy watches as the principal (Gene Lockhart again) inspires Louise (and, by extension, Julie) by assuring her that so long as she has hope in her heart, she'll never walk alone. Frank Sinatra, the film's original Billy Bigelow, dropped out of the production due to laryngitis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Gordon MacRae - Billy
Shirley Jones - Julie
Cameron Mitchell - Jigger
Barbara Ruick - Carrie
Gene Lockhart - Starkeeper
Claramae Turner - Cousin Nettie

Released as a string of THX digitally remastered Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals on DVD, Carousel will surprise both fans and musical lovers unfamiliar with the film. The first film, shot in CinemaScope 55 (which is slightly wider than today's 2.35:1 "scope" ratio), Carousel is almost an entirely new film on DVD after years of faded, cropped transfers on video and television. The non-anamorphic 2.55:1 widescreen transfer is brilliant, with only a little "shimmering" from digital edge enhancement detracting from the picture. The restored colors and aspect ratio give the film a new lease on life; some of the beach scenes look like they were filmed recently as opposed to almost 45 years ago. The restored 5.0 Dolby track holds a perfect balance between the vocals and the score, really making the musical come alive again. Though short on the supplement end, the disc does include a unique alternative to a trailer -- the original theatrical newsreel about the premiere of the film. Another film that makes an example of the benefits of restoring older films for future enjoyment, Carousel on DVD should be regarded as the definitive version. ~ Oliver Thornton, All Movie Guide